Transport minister considers expanding park-and-ride services

Nicosia, Cyprus. Transport Minister Evie Tsolaki said on Friday that she will consider expanding park-and-ride services across Cyprus to reduce traffic congestion in towns and cities.

She said the services can ease congestion and increase the availability of parking spaces in urban areas, while noting that traffic affects the daily lives of residents and visitors.

Traffic priorities

Tsolaki said traffic management is among the ministry’s priorities and that ways to alleviate congestion must be found in cooperation with other competent bodies.

She said that during upcoming meetings with senior ministry officials, all proposals will be examined to determine which are feasible, with further announcements to follow.

Driver shortages

Park-and-ride services have faced difficulties in recent months because of a shortage of bus drivers. Concerns had been raised that the Pame Express route between the GSP Stadium and central Nicosia could be discontinued, although the service was eventually retained.

Transport ministry official Andreas Nikiforou said in March that bus drivers in Cyprus were “like an endangered species”.

Recruitment proposals

The employers’ and industrialists’ federation, Oev, suggested at the time that drivers could be recruited from third countries that drive on the left, including India.

Disy MP Demetris Demetriou said legislative changes would be required to allow this and called for efforts to find drivers from the local population.

Bus drivers in Cyprus must have a working knowledge of Greek, which excludes many people from abroad. Obtaining the category D licence required for commercial vehicles can also take several months.

Drivers must also sit a written examination available in Greek, Turkish and English.